Nate’s Big Dogs from the Midwest Elite Showcase
MAPLE GROVE– In a weather day that was bipolar to start out at the beautiful Fernbrook Fields in Maple Grove, the Midwest Elite Showcase put on by Portenza Sports still went on as is as it became a beautiful day…
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Continue ReadingMAPLE GROVE– In a weather day that was bipolar to start out at the beautiful Fernbrook Fields in Maple Grove, the Midwest Elite Showcase put on by Portenza Sports still went on as is as it became a beautiful day in Minnesota late afternoon. Us at Prep Redzone Minnesota got to do what we do best: scouting Minnesota’s best and under the radar prospects. Fresh off the decision from the MSHSL earlier in the week to move fall football to March, we got to see who had the hunger just to get out there and show their stuff after a week of emotion and uncertainty. As a scout, I wish I was able to clone myself to be at every station taking notes, gathering data, etc. but that’s just not something we have in the works yet in the world! The biggest take I took in before I even started my day: Because you have on your Hudl you run a 4.5 40 time, does not mean you actually run a 4.5. The Midwest Elite Showcase had Zybek Sports, who does the testing numbers for the NFL Combine, college football programs, and much more. They have created the Standardized Athlete Test (SAT) which gives you raw numbers for running a 40-yard dash, shuttle run, vertical jump, and broad jump. Each kid was tested individually, and given the real numbers of where they stand on those numbers. What I thought was very unique in their presentation was how they have data for each position based on the amount of high school football testing they have done, meaning you can see where your numbers stack up compared to others that play your position and as well how others are running in your class to you a base on what you can improve on as a football player.
Last football season, I ran a segment each week and brought home to write about “big dogs” of the week that I got to watch. Sunday’s big dogs had the grit to punch thru the weather, had the best 40 times of the day, were showing out in 1on1 drills, and the big guys got to show who the best OL/DL’s were from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and everywhere else. It’s broken down by position below. Note: These evaluations are based on feedback from coaches as well as prospects I got to personally watch on Sunday.
Quarterback
These were the quarterbacks that set the stage on Sunday at the Midwest Elite Showcase. Some are newcomers we got first glimpses of, and others are up and comers you’ll see in our updated Class of 2022 rankings coming out soon.
Vincent Pyne Vincent Pyne 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB Rosemount | 2022 State MN , Rosemount (2022)
Pyne was a quarterback I was able to pre-scout via Hudl before arriving at Maple Grove on Sunday. I had some concern with his film as far as the touch he had on his deeper throws, but his touch on the ball looked much better in person on Sunday. Look for Pyne to be one of the top quarterbacks in our Class of 2022 with our update rankings coming out soon as he also has clutch speed.
Gregory Clark, Dassel-Cokato (2022)
Clark was a newcomer I just learned about on Sunday. He threw the football well and certainly hit the ideal size for a quarterback. If you try to find Clark on Hudl, you might have a tough time finding other than his name, because this prospect is another hidden gem out of state runner up, Dassel-Cokato.
No Tape Available.
Luke Floysand Luke Floysand 6'2" | 210 lbs | QB Cretin Derham Hall | 2022 State MN , Cretin-Derham Hall (2022)
I have had numerous conversations about Floysand about making him one of the top quarterbacks in our Class of 2022, but for the lack of full film, it’s been a tough sell for us, until yesterday. What did Floysand prove yesterday? It’s not about the film; you need to see the live-action! Floysand has a strong arm that wasn’t afraid to unload the deep ball and threw a good mix of balls during one on 1s. With CDH graduating Furman commit Preston Thelemann, Floysand looks to be the next man up as QB1 for the Raiders next season.
Running Back
Monte Gillman, Dassel-Cokato (2024)
Quite possibly, one of the youngest stars of the show yesterday was Monte Gillman of Dassel-Cokato. Certainly no stranger to Prep Redzone Minnesota, Gillman impressed with us his leaping ability, consistent speed, and ability to make a big grab over a more massive defensive back which turned heads from everyone that was watching. I put Gillman in the running back category, but I think he could be more of an Athlete, as I could see the Chargers using him at almost any skill position next year based on what I saw yesterday.
No Tape Available, but when it comes thru, it will be a must-watch!
Isaiah Huber Isaiah Huber 5'10" | RB Rochester Century | 2021 State MN , Rochester Century (2021)
Believe it or not, there are prospects outside of the Twin Cities that can run fast, like really fast like Nate’s Big Dogs from the Midwest Elite Showcase Nate’s Big Dogs from the Midwest Elite Showcase of Rochester Century on Sunday. Huber had one of the fastest 40-yard dash time at the Midwest Elite Showcase. The top 80 prospect is a burner that only gets faster when he gets upfield. Huber also shines as being a reliable pass catcher that can make some quick noise catching the ball out of the backfield, as you’ll frequently see on film. Somehow, the fastest guy on the field Sunday has only two NSIC offers from Bemidji State and Minnesota-Duluth but has interest from Minnesota’s newest Division I university as well.
Carter Otto Carter Otto 6'0" | RB Elk River | 2021 State MN , Elk River (2021)
Otto is another prospect that is no stranger to PRZ Minnesota as you’ve heard his name a lot for a good reason. When watching him on film and in person on Sunday, I have become a fan of how he runs with and without the football and would recommend any younger players looking for tape to study to watch his film to lock in how it’s done. Whether it’s at running back and linebacker, Otto can play high-level college football, as he is a workhorse athletically and can get it done on both ends of the football. Holds offers from St. Thomas, Grand View, SMSU, and Mary with plenty of interest from the Missouri Valley and the rest of the Northern Sun.
Wide Receiver
Eli Gillman Eli Gillman 6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH Dassel-Cokato | 2022 State MN , Dassel-Cokato (2022)
The spark of Nate’s Big Dogs from the Midwest Elite Showcase Nate’s Big Dogs from the Midwest Elite Showcase ’s recruiting trail finally lit a fire a few weeks back when Wisconsin and now Liberty has chimed in with interest in one of Minnesota’s top 15 prospects. When Gillman ran the 40, he was in the top tier range from all the skill players that came out to Maple Grove on Sunday afternoon. I also got to see his versatility shown off in person, in which he impressed us at PRZ by pulling in a clutch grab after fighting off the defensive back. He’s projected for a massive junior season after a 21 TD and 3 INTs campaign last season for the Chargers.
Eli Gillman Eli Gillman 6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH Dassel-Cokato | 2022 State MN Recruiting Report
Colin Dussault, Chaska (2022)
One of the under the radar talents that stood out on Sunday was Chaska WR, Colin Dussault. Similar to a prospect like Clark with no film via Hudl, Dussault was consistent across the board in his drills and 1on1s on Saturday. He’s not going to break any speed records, but he’s another young prospect in a Chaska Hawks program that made it to the state tournament last year.
No Film Available.
Rashad McKinley Rashad McKinley 6'1" | 175 lbs | WR Hill-Murray | 2022 State MN , Hill-Murray (2022)
McKinley, the #3 prospect in our Class of 2022, was another one of the fast movers on Sunday in the 40-yard dash. McKinley is an all gas, no brake type of prospect, meaning he’s pedal to the floor no matter where he is on both ends of the field. On the defensive side of the ball, it’s McKinley tackling that stands out as such an active cornerback. The physicality he has not just to make a tackle but to dismantle the player with the football is another one of those things you just can’t coach, as Rashad brings the explosiveness on every play. At the receiver, McKinley’s route running lit a spark in watching his film, as his routes are so creative and built on not just catching a 40-yard pass from his quarterback but running that 8-yard slant where he sees a lane and cuts it up with that blazing speed for a touchdown. McKinley currently holds offers from Iowa State and Nebraska. Where do I see McKinley? I think he would be an excellent fit in the Big 12, so Iowa State and other suitors like Texas Tech that love to throw the football would be ideal fits for the Hill-Murray junior.
Offensive Line
Quite possibly the deepest position of prospects that were out at the Midwest Elite Showcase were on the offensive line. The bulk of these prospects will be playing high-level college football or already have offers.
Colton Rada, Chaska (2022)
Rada is an offensive lineman that was not afraid to rock and roll on 1on1 drills on Sunday. What I love about Rada is how he finishes blocks until they are 100% over! When I watch the tape, the mobility is what stands out as his ability to move quickly to pull blocks from multiple areas across the line is what makes Rada an intriguing prospect and intriguing enough to be a guy you will see in our Class of 2022 rankings coming out soon.
Ryan Retzer Ryan Retzer 6'3" | 265 lbs | OL Belle Plaine | 2023 State MN , Belle Plaine (2023)
Retzer was another prospect that came out to play in the 1on1 drill despite going up against the older competition. When you watch the film on Retzer you fall for how physical he is on every run block and just how much potential he still has left. Hudl states that Retzer weights around 245 but he has gotten way stronger and is now in the 265-270 range which is already an ideal size to go into a college program as a freshman on the offensive line. He still has three more years of football to improve his speed, techniques, and other items. My prediction: Retzer will be one of the most sought out offensive linemen not just the outstate has to offer, but the state of Minnesota has to offer in the Class of 2023. Currently, the #3 prospect and top OL in Minnesota in 2023 and he checked the boxes on Sunday.
Charlie Folkens Charlie Folkens OL Rogers | 2021 State MN , Rogers, (2021)
Folkens is an exceptional run blocker and showed off the strength in his strong legs in 1on1s on Sunday. His quick feet also put a lot of the defensive lineman in places they didn’t want to be. Folkens, who plays at 6’3 270 pounds, would be a perfect fit in the Missouri Valley in which he’s already gotten interested in programs like North Dakota, SDSU, and others.
Sam Floysand Sam Floysand 6'3" | OL Cretin-Derham Hall | 2021 State MN , Cretin Derham-Hall (2021)
A man amongst boys, that’s how Sam Floysand Sam Floysand 6'3" | OL Cretin-Derham Hall | 2021 State MN looked like in 1on1s on Sunday. Floysand has the physicality you just can’t coach, and it’s no wonder high-level Power 5 programs have taken notice. With some defensive linemen he went up against their could have been two of them in front of him, and he still would have put them on their rear end. When was the last time a Minnesota prospect had an offer from all of the major military academies? Air Force, Navy, Army have all offered, along with Illinois State, Western Illinois, Concordia-St Paul, and others.
Blake Bergmann, Wayzata (2022)
Bergmann was another pleasant OL prospect I first learned about at the Midwest Elite Showcase. If there is one thing I know about the Wayzata Trojans, they just brew big and robust offensive linemen after offensive linemen. Bergmann, who is a little more of raw talent than the others, showed off his pure strength and robust physicality to show Minnesota there’s another reliable OL from Wayzata that will get some colleges interested. Make sure you watch his film below from the 30-second mark until about 50 seconds, where you see the pure athleticism of Bergmann’s game on the O-line.
Defensive Line
Deion Stroud, Manawa Little Wolf (WI) (2021)
Stroud and his three other Manawa Wolves teammates made the four-hour drive out to Maple Grove because “they just wanted to ball out,” Stoud said about the Midwest Elite Showcase. I didn’t get to watch his teammates, but Stroud put on quite the show leading the charge as the top defensive linemen I watched on Sunday. Why do you say? Stroud, who stands at 6’2 about 230 pounds, plays the momentum game. He’s got roughly 4.8 speed and runs downhill, so he’s running on a downhill slope to drive the offensive linemen to the ground, which is what he did on Sunday. Deion uses that method on film too, in the Central Wisconsin Conference, where Stoud led the Wolves last season with 16 TFL and 4.5 sacks. He is also the definition of this: it’s not about how small your school is, it’s about the work you put in on and off the field. Manawa is a Division 6 school in Wisconsin, comparable to 1A in Minnesota. The prospects Stroud was going up against? A flood of offensive linemen that are 5A and 6A, and quite certainly going to play Division I or Division II football in their future. College coaches need to watch Stroud’s film below to know that he is a college-level prospect coming out of Manawa, that needs your attention.
Ben Reiland, Shakopee/Waukee (IA) (2022)
Reiland, formerly of Shakopee, has recently transferred to Waukee High School in Iowa to get an opportunity to play fall football. Reiland was one of the top defensive linemen I got to watch as his motor was what impressed me most. A former quarterback, Reiland has a quick ability to jump off offensive linemen and get to the QB and make a play. The 6’2 220-pound prospect has no defensive end film anywhere on Hudl, so he is a raw talent that will be making some noise on the defensive side of the ball in the state of Iowa.
TJ Edminson TJ Edminson 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Rosemount | 2022 State MN , Rousemount (2022)
It took Edminson some time to get locked in against the bigger offensive linemen, but he ended strong because he just kept putting in the reps with the big guys. I thought it was beneficial for TJ to run with the defensive line as a combo DL/LB. TJ is a prospect that will put in the reps and get stronger, bigger, and faster. As a 2023 prospect in a program like Rosemount, I think Edminson is a player we are going to be talking about more frequently over the coming years wherever he fits in on that Irish defense.
Linebacker
Drew Lindgren, Mounds View (2021)
I got great feedback from coaches about another stud from the linebacking core of Mounds View. Lindgren has an excellent build at linebacker and ran pretty quick on his 40 times on Sunday. What I did learn about Drew on Sunday is his unique character that any program would love to have. Holds one offer from Minnesota-Mankato and is probably the absolute most under the radar prospect we have in Minnesota in the Class of 2021 right now, which is a total surprise, as Mounds View just cranks out quality college linebackers year after year. Stay tuned for more on Lindgren in the coming weeks on Prep Redzone Minnesota!
Defensive Back
Brady Anderson Brady Anderson 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB Liberty | 2021 State CA , Edina (2023)
Anderson ranked in our Class of 2023 was another standout from Sunday. You wouldn’t recognize it much by the film as it mostly shows him as a power running back at 6’2, but Anderson has made a transition for next season: focusing more on cornerback and moving to wide receiver on offense. It’s tough to find too many over 6’0 DBs in Minnesota, so I will be intrigued to watch Edina in the future that has one with the speed and size of Anderson. Anderson I think will be one that the film won’t do justice, you have to go to Edina to see him live. Has significantly above-average speed too.
Ari Gaiters, Shakopee (2023)
I only got to watch Gaiters on one play, but it was one of the best plays a defensive back made in front of my eyes on Sunday. Gaiters has the speed to run with the quicker receivers and was fearless as he got up and made a big play. What stands out about Gaiters is not his height, but his size. Most kids his stature don’t have the more muscular bodies to compete with the big receivers we see in today’s football. Gaiters has taken the weight room seriously, and outweighs most DBs I saw yesterday by about 15-20 pounds but has the same if not better speed.